Health Industry Archives - Page 53 of 195

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: ACA Open Enrollment Without the Drama

The Affordable Care Act’s 10th annual open-enrollment period began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15, 2023, in most states. But for the first time, the health law seems to be enrolling Americans with far less controversy than in previous years. Meanwhile, as Election Day approaches, Democrats are focusing on GOP efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Julie Appleby of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN’s Arthur Allen, who wrote the latest KNH-NPR Bill of the Month, about an old but still very expensive cancer drug.

Nov. 3, 2022

A woman checking in at a doctor’s office reception desk

Haven’t Seen Your Doctor in a Few Years? You May Need to Find a New One

Some primary care physicians will drop seldom-seen patients. That’s a particular problem for those who postponed doctor visits during the pandemic.

By Michelle Andrews

Nov. 3, 2022

A close up photo shows a hundred dollar bill inside an envelope.

Cash for Colonoscopies: Colorado Tries to Lower Health Costs Through Incentives

State employees could receive checks ranging from $50 to thousands of dollars if they choose the right provider.

By Markian Hawryluk

Nov. 2, 2022

An illustration shows a hospital bed encircled by two arrows, suggesting repetition.

Medicare Fines for High Hospital Readmissions Drop, but Nearly 2,300 Facilities Are Still Penalized

Federal officials said they are penalizing 2,273 hospitals, the fewest since the fiscal year that ended in September 2014. Driving the decline was a change in the formula to compensate for the chaos caused by the covid-19 pandemic.

By Jordan Rau

Nov. 1, 2022

Female holding credit card making online payment, closeup view.

This Open Enrollment Season, Look Out for Health Insurance That Seems Too Good to Be True

Complaints about misleading health insurance marketing are soaring. State insurance commissioners are taking notice. They’ve created a shared internal database to monitor questionable business practices, and, in the future, they hope to provide a public-facing resource for consumers. In the meantime, consumers should shop wisely as open enrollment season begins.

By Bram Sable-Smith

Nov. 1, 2022

A pen and ink cartoon depicting a witch lying on the floor, staring in horror at her cell phone. A black cat stands on her stomach and is pawing at the window above them. Outside, you can see ghostly depictions of the following viruses: covid-19, ebola, monkeypox, and influenza.

Readers Boo Medical Debt and Viral Threats in Winning Halloween Haikus

We unmask the winner and runners-up in KHN’s fourth annual Halloween haiku competition — plus the original artwork they inspired as a special treat.

Oct. 31, 2022

Newborn girl sleeps in her mother's arms. The mother is in a hospital bed and gown.

‘Fourth Trimester’ Focus Is Pushed to Prevent Maternal Deaths

Public health investigators found that 53% of maternal deaths happened well after a mother left the hospital — from seven days to a year after the birth.

By April Dembosky, KQED

Oct. 31, 2022

A doctor holds a linear ultrasonic diagnostic probe.

Despite Katie Couric’s Advice, Doctors Say Ultrasound Breast Exams May Not Be Needed

When Katie Couric announced she had breast cancer, she urged women to get a mammogram — and, if they have dense breasts, to get supplemental screening by ultrasound. But medical experts point out that ultrasound and other auxiliary screenings haven’t been proven to do more than regular mammography in reducing mortality.

By Michelle Andrews

Oct. 28, 2022

A photo shows an AMR ambulance parked on the side of the road.

Ambulance Company to Halt Some Rides in Southern California, Citing Low Medicaid Rates

American Medical Response, the largest U.S. ambulance company, is ending nonemergency transportation for 12 hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange counties, saying the state doesn’t pay enough to transport low-income patients. The state is pushing back.

By Sarah Kwon

Oct. 28, 2022

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Voters Will Get Their Say on Multiple Health Issues

Abortion isn’t the only health issue voters will be asked to decide in state ballot questions next month. Proposals about medical debt, Medicaid expansion, and whether health care should be a right are on ballots in various states. Meanwhile, the latest lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act has expanded to cover all preventive care. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more.

Oct. 27, 2022

An illustration shows an octopus holding medical facilities in its tentacles, surrounded by dollar signs. Text reads, "Private equity in health care."

Patients for Profit: How Private Equity Hijacked Health Care

How Private Equity Is Investing in Health Care: A Video Primer

Investors are putting money into everything from emergency room obstetrics units and dermatology practices to nursing homes and hospice care — from cradle to grave.

By Hannah Norman and Oona Zenda

Oct. 26, 2022

A photo shows an exterior of Carolinas Medical Center. A large sign in front of the building bears the name of the hospital and Atrium Health, its owner.

Hospitals Said They Lost Money on Medicare Patients. Some Made Millions, a State Report Finds.

A North Carolina state treasurer’s report found hospitals give conflicting information about whether they profit from Medicare patients. Experts said the findings are significant because they suggest the federal government has failed to closely watch the billions of dollars in tax breaks that nonprofit hospitals have received.

By Fred Clasen-Kelly

Oct. 25, 2022

Dr. Bhavin Shah, who wears a dress shirt and tie, stands beside his wife, Sunita Kalsariya, who wears a black cardigan over a white patterned shirt. They are in an office room next to a window, and look towards the camera.

A Billing Expert Saved Big After Finding an Incorrect Charge in Her Husband’s ER Bill

A medical billing specialist investigated her husband’s ER bill. Her sleuthing took over a year but knocked thousands of dollars off the hospital’s charges — and provides a playbook for other consumers.

By Bram Sable-Smith

Oct. 25, 2022

A digital illustration in watercolor and pencil. It is a nighttime scene. The artwork shows an off-shore oil rig, drawn in bright red pencil, out at sea. The water is dark black with hints of reflection from a full moon overhead. In the center of the image there are two Louisiana brown pelicans. One is taking flight, highlighted by the gold light of the moon. The other bird, which has its wings tightly closed, appears somewhat ghostly, drawn in red pencil over a black silhouette.

For the Houma People, Displacement Looms With Every Storm

The Houma, an Indigenous tribe, has seen much of its Gulf Coast community washed away by rising sea levels and dangerous storms. Its leaders say the tribe’s lack of federal recognition makes it harder to keep rebuilding.

By Emmarie Huetteman

Oct. 24, 2022

A photo shows Mattie Ruffin chanting with other protesters outside of Los Angeles City Hall. Some hold signs that read, "Fair wages."

Labor Tries City-by-City Push in California for $25 Minimum Wage at Private Medical Facilities

Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West is testing the waters on a $25 minimum wage for support staff at health care facilities in Southern California. Opposition from hospitals and health facilities is driving an expensive battle.

By Rachel Bluth

Oct. 21, 2022

Podcast

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Biden Hits the Road to Sell Democrats’ Record

With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, President Joe Biden has taken to the road to convince voters that he and congressional Democrats have delivered for them during two years in power. Among the health issues highlighted by the administration this week are pandemic preparedness and the availability of over-the-counter hearing aids. The president also promised to sign a bill codifying the abortion protections of Roe v. Wade if Democrats maintain control of the House and Senate — even though it’s a long shot that there will be enough votes for that. Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Mary Agnes Carey of KHN join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these topics and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Oct. 20, 2022

An illustration shows 3D renderings of the Epstein-Barr virus.

As Links to MS Deepen, Researchers Accelerate Efforts to Develop an Epstein-Barr Vaccine

Recent leaps in medical research have lent urgency to the quest to develop a vaccine against Epstein-Barr, a ubiquitous virus that has been linked to a range of illnesses, from mononucleosis to multiple sclerosis and several cancers.

By Liz Szabo

Oct. 19, 2022

Centene Gave Thousands to Georgia Leaders’ Campaigns While Facing Medicaid Overbilling Questions

Centene is trying to settle accusations of Medicaid pharmaceutical overcharging in Georgia, and the St. Louis-based company has been giving thousands of dollars to the campaigns of the state attorney general and the governor.

By Maya T. Prabhu, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Andy Miller

Oct. 18, 2022

A photo shows a pair of hands holding Sony's new CRE-C10 hearing aids.

Say What? Hearing Aids Available Over-the-Counter for as Low as $199, and Without a Prescription

The cheaper over-the-counter aids are for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss — a market of tens of millions of people, many of whom have until now been priced out because prescription devices can cost thousands of dollars.

By Phil Galewitz

Oct. 17, 2022